Havant residents want action to be taken to stop workers parking in the road

Neighbours say the parking situation has reached crisis-point after the borough council’s attempts to tackle the issue have failed to work.

Around 2,400 people work at Southern Electric’s huge office at Penner Road – providing much-needed jobs for the Havant area. But it is a double-edged sword as there are only 670 parking spaces.

There is sometimes traffic gridlock and every morning there is a rush to occupy the limited number of free parking spaces across Havant, Langstone and Brockhampton. Last month the council painted yellow lines and introduced weekday parking restrictions in parts of Langstone.

But residents say workers continue to occupy any available space and it is shifting the problem to other areas.

A shuttle bus that took workers from the town centre to the Broadmarsh site used to be subsidised by Southern Electric, but is no longer.

It is now run by Langstone Technology Park. Workers are still able to use it, although the uptake can be low.

Kate Turner, vice-chairwoman of Brockhampton Residents’ Association, said: ‘The issue has to some extent been switched from Langstone to Brockhampton.

‘It’s worse than ever before.’

Mrs Turner said she has seen workers park four cars in the road, only to get in one car and travel the short journey to Southern Electric.

Mrs Turner said she did not blame them for doing it, but added: ‘Basically all they want is a place to park.

‘They don’t consider whether are close to junctions.

‘People on Brockhampton Road have had to have white lines painted outside their houses because they can’t get out of their driveways.’

She said a new multi-storey car park might be a solution.

A Southern Electric spokesman said: ‘We’ll continue to review parking at the site and make any improvements possible.’

Jackie Batchelor, executive head of environment and neighbourhood quality at Havant Borough Council, said: ‘The council has introduced a variety of permanent and experimental traffic regulation orders (TROs) in the residential roads east and west of the Langstone Road.

‘Some apply 24/7 and others are restricted to certain hours, Monday to Friday only. The orders are to allow time for refinement following resident feedback and observation before implementing a final Traffic Regulation Order.’